Jimmie Johnson’s hex at Pocono holds with DNF

LONG POND, Pa. – What used to be an excellent track for Jimmie Johnson has turned into a jinx of late.

The seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion has three victories at the Tricky Triangle, but in the last four races at the 2.5-mile speedway, Johnson has crashed out three times.

Sunday’s Overton’s 400 brought the second straight DNF for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. On Lap 57, one go-around after the second stage went green, Johnson took a spin into the Turn 3 wall off the nose of teammate Kasey Kahne’s Chevrolet.

Before Johnson’s race ended in that corner, he had already collided with Ryan Blaney after an earlier restart.

“I was in the outside lane and losing some spots,” Johnson said of the wreck. “I think the No. 5 washed up into me and kind of finished me off over there in Turn 3.

“It’s definitely not the day we wanted to have, but I don’t think either one of those situations were intentional by any stretch. It’s just a bummer day for this whole Lowe’s team, and we’ll get our Chevy ready for next week and go do it again.”

In his last four starts at Pocono, Johnson has finished 35th, 16th, 36th and 35th. He hasn’t had a result better than 10th since he picked up his third victory of the season on June 4 at Dover.

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